Oak Harbor is trying to improve its marina both for boaters as well as fish and other wildlife.

The city asked Island County’s natural resources division to lead a feasibility study looking at the possibilities for environmental restoration at the marina. The Island County Board of Commissioners recently approved a contract with the city to perform the study, which will be partially funded by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program.

Anna Toledo, from county natural resources, said the effort is aimed at identifying the mutual benefits of certain projects to enhance near-shore habitat while improving the marina for its human users as well.

Toledo said she’ll investigate strategies such as removing hard armoring along the shore and replacing it with natural vegetation or sand. The “soft armoring” would ease access to the beach and create a more natural environment for wildlife. The study will also focus on the feasibility of increasing the angle of the boat launch. Toledo said its shallow grade forces users to back their vehicles pretty far into the water, which adds pollutants.

Other projects she’ll consider are reductions in parts of the docks or moorage that hang over the water, because salmon and other fish avoid shaded areas, and stormwater drainage improvements. The potential impacts of other improvements, such as adding a pathway from the parking lot to the water, will also be researched.

When the study ends in June 2020, the county will provide Oak Harbor with recommendations for which projects to pursue and potential funding sources.

County Commissioner Jill Johnson said at the March 6 meeting she wanted to enter the agreement knowing the city understands there’s an expectation that the recommendations will be implemented.